Pilot Harold Cliver and Robin Rowe, of Lewisville, Texas, prepare their balloon for Wednesday's flight before it was canceled.

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Too much wind canceled the first scheduled hot air balloon launch at the 2013 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival on Wednesday.

Event Director Jim Birk told 50 pilots about 8 p.m. that the winds were just too fast to try to launch from W.K. Kellogg Airport. Birk placed the pilots on a hold after the 6 p.m. briefing, hoping the winds would diminish as dusk approached. He had to allow an hour for the pilots to launch and land before sunset. ...